Off-shore drilling barge



Sept. 26, 1961 Filed NOV. 17, 1953 G. E. SUDEROW OFF-SHORE DRILLING BARGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ggozgp E. Sfldeipow,

ma M ATTORNEY) Sept. 26, 1961 G. E. SUDEROW 3,001,593

OFF-SHORE DRILLING BARGE Filed Nov. 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 27! 11 11 & I ?4 1 Ii 14 14 1 iii 15 7. "ll

x 6 INVENTOR:

(II 607:9; E. Sjudem Iv,

ATTORNEYT Sept. 26, 1961 e. E. SUDEROW OFF-SHORE DRILLING BARGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 17, 1953 P 1961 G. E. SUDEROW 3,001,593

OFF-SHORE DRILLING BARGE Filed Nov. 17, 1953 G 16 29 I as 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f A a z I 25 35 31 United States Patent C) 3,001,593 OFF-SHORE DRILLING BARGE George E. Suderow, Staten Island, N.Y., assignor to De Long Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 17, 1953, Ser. No. 392,592 7 Claims. (Cl. 175-9) The present invention relates to marine vessels such as floating barges for use in subaqueous operations and more particularly, to improved means for supporting and centering the producing platform and its associated parts during the drilling operation.

An important object is to provide a floating barge with means for releasably supporting a producing platform. Positioned above the platform is a hinged table having at least one drill opening arranged to register with a complementary drill opening in the producing platform when the table is moved to a horizontal position so that a drilling tool may be inserted through the drill openings and be properly centered during the drilling operation.

A further object consists in associating with a floating transportable barge for off-shore drilling, a producing platform or the like having a plurality of drill holes arranged in one or more rows. A movable table which serves as a template is associated with the producing platform and has drill holes and rotaries which register with the holes in the producing platform to provide simple, eficient, and compact multiple drilling means in order that two or more wells may be drilled at the same time at a minimum expenditure of time, labor and cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings in which is shown a preferred embodiment the invention may assume:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view with parts cut away of a of a floating barge constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail plan view of the hinged table or rotary platform;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a detail plan view of the producing plat form or template;

FIGURE 7 is a detail sectional view substantially along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a detail view of the tilting mechanism for moving the derrick head; and v FIGURE 9 is a detail side view of the brake mechanism for maintaining the derrick in a fixed position.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a floating barge used in off-shore drilling operations for transporting and supporting well drilling equipment. The barge is arranged to be stably supported over a drilling site submerged under a deep body of water, preferably by the steel caissons or tubular columns 11 which extend loosely through the vertical openings 12 in opposite sides of the barge 10 and which may be moved axially and mounted in different adjusted positions in any suitable manner, preferably by the jack mechanism 13 such as disclosed in the Pointer applications, Serial No. 143,627, filed February 11, 1950 and Serial No. 283,567, filed April 22, 1952. The barge '10 with the caissons 11 in their retracted position, is floated to the drilling site and the jack mechanism 13 is then released so as to cause the caissons to be moved downwardly and the pontoons 14 connected to the lower ends of the caissons, to con- Patented Sept. 26, 1961 tact and be embedded in the under water bottom or ground 15 (FIG. 3). The barge 10 is so constructed as to constitute a self-contained unit in which is conveniently mounted the necessary machinery, supply tools, tanks, shop and accommodations necessary to keep a drill crew at an off-shore drilling site for an indefinite period of time.

The barge may be provided with the usual hurricane brace bars 16 and a shop and accommodating compartment 17 (FIG. 1). Adjacent the end 18 of the barge 10 and extending transversely thereof on its platformlike working deck are a pair of tracks or rails 19 which receive the rollers 20 connected to the derrick 21 so as to move the latter relative to the barge for the purpose subsequently to be described. The bars 16 may be detachably connected to the barge and the derrick as at 22 (FIG. 2). The end 18 of the barge 10 has extending outwardly therefrom a pair of transversely spaced brackets or supporting members 23 (FIG. 6), each having a horizontal ledge or flat portion 24 on which is arranged to rest one side of a producing platform or member 25. To the opposite side of the producing platform 25 is detachably connected a brace arm or rod 26 as at 27. The other end of the rod 26 is detachably connected as at 28 to a bracket structure 28' on the barge 10. The platform or member 25 is also provided with corner openings 29 (FIG. 6) for receiving the auxiliary caissons 30. The platform 25 is also formed with one or more transverse rows of drill holes 31 (FIG. 6) which are arranged to selectively register with complementary formed drill holes 32 (FIG. 5) in a drilling table or rotary platform 33 when the latter is in its horizontal position above the producing platform.

The table 33 is hinged at one end as at 34 to the adjacent end of the derrick 21. The outer or opposite end portion of the table 33 has connected to the sides thereof a pair of folding brace arms or links 35. Each pair of links 35 is hinged together as at 36 and has its lower end pivoted as at 37 to the table 33 and its opposite end pivoted as at 38 to the derrick 21. The table 33 when not in use may be folded or swung up wardly to the out of the way position shown in FIG- URE 5.

The portable derrick 21 which is adjustably mounted on the deck of barge 10 through the instrumentality of the rails 19 and the rollers 20, includes a horizontal base or drilling substructure 39 to which the rollers 20 are suitably connected. The derrick also has a tower frame 40 (FIG. 2) On the base 39 may be mounted the engine 41 that is operatively connected to the usual draw works and rotary drive means 42 (FIG. 1). A pipe rack platform 43 is connected to the tower 40 adjacent the upper end thereof and is accessible by a vertical ladder 44. To the upper end of the tower 40 is pivotally connected a substantially triangular shaped head or beam 45 as at 46. The head 45 may be moved about the pivot 46 by a tilting mechanism 47 (FIG. 2) which comprises a threaded shaft 48 that extends through the spaced threaded bushings 49 and 50 that are internally threaded for receiving the threads of the shaft 48. A manually operated hand wheel 51 (FIG. 8) is attached to the lower end of the shaft 48 so that rotation of the shaft imparts a tilting movement to the head 45. The tubular bushing 49 is pivotally connected as at 52 to the platform 43 while the; bushing 50 may be pivoted as at 53 to the head 45. A crown block or pulley 54 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 55 carried by the end portion 56 (FIG. 2) of the head 45. A tiltable or self-leveling platform 57 is mounted as at 58 to the head 45 and is positioned adjacent the block 54. Access to the platform may be had through an inclined ladder 59 and a vertical ladder 60 that extends upwardly from the platform 43. A cable 61 is head 45 (FIG. 2) and is then trained over the block or V pulley 54 and a travelling block 63 having a hook or loop 64. The platform 43is arranged to carry pipes or caissons to be centered and inserted through the producing platform 25 into the ground during the subaqueous operation of the apparatus. The upper end portion of the head 45 which carries the block 54 constitutes a tacklesuspending top portion that extends outside or beyond the peripheral outline of the barge 1G.

The longitudinally aligned drill holes 32 of the mov' able table or platform 33 have mounted therein the usual rotaries 65 and 66 (FIG. 5.) each of which is arranged to frictionally engage the shaft of a drilling tool or the like 67; The rotary drive 42 has extending outwardly therefrom a rotary drive shaft 68 (FIG. 4) which is connected to a shaft 69 by universal joint 70 as at 71. The

V shaft 69 is operatively connected to the rotary 32 through a suitable gearing mounted in thehousing 72. A shaft 73 is also operatively connected to the shaft 69 through a gearing mounted in the extension 74 of the housing 72 and in turn is connected to the rotary 66 so as to operate tool 'shaft 67 simultaneously with the rotary 65 during the operation of the apparatus. One or more of the rotaries may be mounted on the table 33 so that one or more drilling tools 67 may be operated together. a

The portable derrick 21 when moved transversely relative to the barge may be locked in a fixed position by any suitable means, such as the movable clamp 75 "(FIG. 9), that is arranged to engage the rail 19 and be held in a fixed position thereon by the co-acting levers 76 and 77 which are pivoted at their inner ends as at 78.

'The outer end of lever 76 is pivoted as at 79 to a depending boss or block 80 carried by the derrick 21. A threaded shaft 81 extends outwardly from the lever 77. A hand wheel 82 is threaded on the shaft 81 and between the boss 80 and the wheel 82 is a block or member 83 through -which the shaft 81 loosely extends so as to control the clamping adjustment of the member 75 with the rail 19.

In operation, the barge 10 with the caissons 11 in their retracted position, is floated to the site Where the off-shore drilling is to take place. When it reaches this location, the caissons 11 are lowered by jacks 13 or dropped so I that the pontoons 14 are firmly embedded into the sub- 25 may then be positioned so as to rest on the spaced brackets 23 and be connected to the brace bars 26 to assume the position as shown in FIGURE 2. The hinged table 33 which normally is in its vertical position as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2, may then be connected to the hooks 64 of the block 63 and lowered to its horizontal position by the operation of the drum 62. The table 33 is then properly centered over the desiredrow of drill holes 31 in the producing platform by rolling the derrick 21 along the track19 through power applied by the engine 41. The derrick 21 is then releasably maintained in a fixed position by the clamp 75 being moved into tight frictional engagement with the rail 19 so as to be firmly clamped to the barge. Fore and aft centering of the hook 64 with the rotaries 65 and 66 is accomplished by raisingor lowering the derrick head 45 about its pivot 46 through the adjustment of the tilting mechanism 47. The platform 57 is pivoted to the derrick head 45 and to the inclined ladder 59. so as to provide self-leveling means 'for the platform. Thus it will be seen that the tiltable head 45 of the derrick has an intermediate portion'which 'is pivotedly connected to the tower as at 46 and an end portion to which the tilting mechanism 47 is adjustably connected. The opposite end of the head carries the pulley or sheave 54 over which the cable passes.

Upon bringing in a well in one or more locations through the producing platform 25, the latter is fixed into its desired position by raising the hinged table 33 so as to move the same to its vertical position. Caissons 30 are then each carried by the block 63 so as to be properly positioned and embedded into the ground and are made level with the top of the platform 25 by being burned off and welded to the platform so as to provide a smooth or even top surface. The detachable brace arms 26 are then disconnected from the platform 25. The barge 10 now is lowered from the position shown in FIGURE 2 by jacks 13 so as to float in the water and the caissons 11 retracted also by jacks 13 to move the pontoons free from engagement with the ground. The barge 10 is then ready to' be floated to another drilling location, While leavingthe platform 25 at the site as a producing platform. Manifestly, if no wells are brought in, the platform 25 is not detached from the barge and is floated to another location therewith.

While only the single cable 61 and sheave 85 are shown, it will be manifest that the derrick head 45 may be provided with multiple sheaves; moreover, the producing platform 25 with its row of drill holes .31 which serve as a template, may be used to co-act with the rotary platform 33 to center the tools for the purpose of providing multiple drilling of wells at the same time. It is also evident that, if it is desired to rework a well at a previously-erected producing platform or to drill another well through the latter, the barge 10 can be floated to such platform in position wherein the derrick head 45 overhangs the latter, the barge elevated on its caissons 11 as aforedescribed without interference with such platform, the drilling platform lowered from its inoperative to its operative position, and the reworking or drilling operation conveniently carried out.

It will be understood that the form of the invention shown and described is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as come within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A floating barge for subaqueous operations including a derrick mounted on the barge, said barge having spaced supporting brackets extending outwardly from one .side thereof, a producing platform spaced laterally from said barge and arranged releasably to rest on said supporting brackets, said producing platform having rows of horizontally spaced drill openings, a table pivotally mounted on the derrick and movable to a horizontal position above said producing platform, said table having a spaced pair of vertical drill openings arranged selectively to register with a pair of drill openings in the producing platform when the table is in its horizontal position,.said registering drill openings arranged to receive a drilling v tool, means for rotating said drilling tool, said producing platform having spaced holes for the reception of marinebottom-engageable caissons to support said producing platform independently of said barge.

2. A floating barge for subaqueous operations as called for inclaim l in which the derrick has a substantially triangular-shaped head provided with end portions and an intermediate portion, means pivotally connecting the intermediate portion to the derrick, and adjustable tilting means operatively connected to one of the said end portions.

3. A floating barge for subaqueous operations including a derrick mounted on the barge, said barge having supporting means extending outwardly from one side thereof, a producing member arranged to rest on said supporting means, said producing member having at least one vertical drill opening, a table movable .to a horizontal position above said producing member, said table having at least one vertical drill opening registering with a drill opening "in the producing member when the table is in its horizontal position, said registering drill openings arranged to receive a drilling tool, means for rotating said drilling 2001 when mounted in said openings, said producing member having spaced holes for the reception of marinebottom-engageable caissons to support said producing member, and means pivotally connecting said table to the derrick so that it may be moved away from said producing member when the caissons are inserted through said holes.

4. In a floating barge for subaqueous operations including a portable derrick mounted on the barge and movable transversely thereof, said barge having a fixed supporting member extending outwardly from one side thereof, a producing platform laterally spaced from said barge and arranged to releasably rest on said supporting member, means on the opposite side of the producing member for detachably connecting the same to said barge, said producing member having at least one vertical drill opening, a table pivotally connected to the derrick and movable to a horizontal position above said producing platform, said table having at least one vertical drill opening arranged to register with a drill opening in the producing member when the table is moved to its horizontal position, the registering drill openings arranged to receive a drilling tool, means for rotating the drilling tool when mounted in said openings, said producing member having spaced holes for the reception of marine-bottom-engageable caissons to support the producing member independently of said barge, and means carried by the derrick for inserting a drill within the drill openings when the derrick is moved to position the drill openings in the table in registration with the drill openings in the producing member.

5. A drilling barge comprising: a buoyant body having a platform-like working deck; means carried by said body for selectively floating the latter or at least partially supporting the same on the marine bottom with said deck above water; a drilling derrick carried on said deck; a drilling table carried by said derrick; a rotary mounted on said table; and means mounting sm'd table and said derrick for pivotal movement between an inoperative position wherein said table does not project outboard of the peripheral outline of said body a distance appreciably greater than the thickness of said table and an operative position wherein said table is horizontal and said rotary is disposed outboard of said outline, said derrick having at least a tackle-suspending top portion positionable over and in vertical alignment with said rotary when said table is in said operative position.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 including means mounting the derrick for horizontal translational movement on the body along an edge thereof.

7. A drilling barge comprising: a buoyant body having a platform-like working deck; means carried by said body for selectively floating the latter or at least partially supporting the same on the marine bottom with said deck above water; a drilling substructure carried on said deck; means mounting said structure for horizontal translational movement on said deck; a drilling derrick and draw works therefor mounted on said substructure; a drilling table; a rotary carried by said table; means mounting said table on said derrick for movement between an inoperative position wherein said table does not project outboard of the peripheral outline of said body a distance appreciably greater than the thickness of said table and an operative position wherein said table is horizontal and said rotary is disposed outboard of said outline, said derrick having at least a tackle-suspending top portion positionable over and in vertical alignment with said rotary when said table is in said operative posi tion.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,494 Packard May 7, 1918 1,829,304 Schoreder Oct. 27, 1931 2,308,743 Bulkley et a1 Jan. 19, 1943 2,378,254 Swaney June 12, 1945 2,475,933 Woolslayer July 12, 1949 2,482,788 Moon Sept. 27, 1949 2,515,540 Willey et al. July 18, 1950 2,515,777 King et al. July 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,482 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1881 

